I amsterdam Card vs Go City Amsterdam Pass — which is better?

The key question

Both the I amsterdam Card and Go City Amsterdam pass are designed to save money on attractions and transport. But they work differently, cover different attractions, and suit different travel styles.

I amsterdam Card	Around €60–115, time-based, unlimited transport
Go City Pass	Around €50–90, choose N attractions, no transport
Neither includes	Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House
Best for heavy museum use	I amsterdam Card
Best for 2–3 specific stops	Go City Pass

The most important thing to know before buying either: neither includes the Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House — two of the most-visited attractions in Amsterdam. If those two are your priorities, buying individual tickets is likely better value.

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I amsterdam City Card: overview

The I amsterdam City Card is the official Amsterdam tourist card, operated by the city’s tourism board.

What it includes:

• Free entry to 70+ museums and attractions
• Unlimited GVB public transport (trams, buses, metro) for the card’s duration
• One free canal cruise (with selected operators)
• Discounts at some restaurants and shops

Prices (2026):

• 24 hours: €60
• 48 hours: €80
• 72 hours: €100
• 96 hours: €115

Key exclusions: Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Heineken Experience, Artis Royal Zoo.

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Go City Amsterdam Pass: overview

The Go City Amsterdam Pass uses an attraction-selection model rather than a time-based model. You pay for a set number of attractions (typically 2, 3, 4, or 5) chosen from a curated list.

How it works: Choose your number of attractions before (or sometimes during) your trip. Each time you visit an included attraction, one “attraction credit” is used. You can choose which attractions to include based on your itinerary.

Typical inclusions: A mix of major museums, canal cruises, A’DAM Lookout, Heineken Experience (sometimes), Artis Royal Zoo (sometimes). The exact list varies — always check the current Go City partner page.

Prices (2026): Approximately €50–70 for a 2-attraction pass, scaling up by attraction count. Individual attraction prices within the pass are typically discounted 10–20% vs walk-in rates.

The Amsterdam Explorer Pass is a variant by the same company: Amsterdam Explorer Pass offers a different selection structure. Compare current inclusions before purchasing.

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Head-to-head comparison

Feature	I amsterdam Card	Go City Pass
Model	Unlimited access, time-based	Select N attractions
Van Gogh Museum	Not included	Not included
Anne Frank House	Not included	Not included
Rijksmuseum	Included	Usually included
Stedelijk Museum	Included	Sometimes included
NEMO Science Museum	Included	Usually included
A’DAM Lookout	Included	Usually included
Artis Royal Zoo	Not included	Sometimes included
Heineken Experience	Not included	Sometimes included
GVB transport	Unlimited (full duration)	Not included
Canal cruise	1 free cruise included	Depends on plan
Flexibility	Fixed; use everything	Choose what you want
Best for	Heavy museum visitors	Selective visitors

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Which card is better value? Running the numbers

Scenario 1: Three museums + transport + canal cruise

I amsterdam Card (48h: €80):

• Rijksmuseum (€22.50) + Stedelijk (€22.50) + NEMO (€17.50) + GVB 2-day (€15.50) + canal cruise (€17) = €95 individually. Card saves ~€15.

Go City (3-attraction: ~€65):

• Covers 3 attractions, no transport, no cruise. If you add GVB separately: €65 + €15.50 = €80.50. Slight saving vs full I amsterdam price.

Verdict for this scenario: Go City is marginally cheaper if you plan exactly 3 attractions and do not need the canal cruise or GVB.

Scenario 2: Five+ museums over 3 days

I amsterdam Card (72h: €100):

• 5 museums (avg €20 each = €100) + GVB 3-day (€21.50) + canal cruise (€17) = €138.50 individually. Card saves ~€38.50.

Go City (5-attraction: ~€90):

• 5 attractions, no transport included. Add GVB: €90 + €21.50 = €111.50. Less than the I amsterdam Card but also no transport covered.

Verdict for heavy museum visitors: I amsterdam Card is better value once you account for the transport and cruise inclusions.

Scenario 3: Artis Zoo + Heineken + 1 museum

Go City is potentially better here because Artis and Heineken are sometimes included in Go City but NOT in the I amsterdam Card. If these two are your priorities, Go City may be your only pass option.

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Practical notes

Activation timing: Both passes start at first use. Plan your activation timing to get maximum value — activate at 09:00 on a museum day, not 17:00 the evening before.

Pre-booking time slots: Even with either card, most popular museums require a timed-entry reservation. Book time slots online in advance — the card covers the entry fee but you still need to select a time.

Always check current inclusions: Both programmes change their attraction lists. Before buying, check the current partner page for the exact list of what’s included in 2026.

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Who should buy which card

Buy the I amsterdam City Card if:

• You plan to visit 4+ museums over 2–3 days
• You will use GVB transport significantly
• You want the canal cruise included
• Your museum list focuses on Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, NEMO and smaller museums

Buy Go City if:

• You want to include Artis Royal Zoo or Heineken Experience (if on Go City’s list)
• You are visiting only 2–3 specific attractions
• You do not need unlimited transport
• You prefer flexibility over time pressure

Buy neither if:

• Your priority is Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House
• You plan to visit only 1–2 museums
• You are staying primarily in one neighbourhood and cycling everywhere

For a deep dive into the I amsterdam Card alone, see our I amsterdam City Card — is it worth it guide.

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Combining a pass with individual tickets

Neither card needs to be an all-or-nothing decision. A common and often smarter strategy is to buy individual tickets for the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House — both excluded from either pass and both requiring their own timed-entry booking anyway — and use whichever card suits your remaining plans for everything else. This avoids paying for pass coverage you can’t use on your two priority sights while still capturing the savings on museums like the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum or NEMO Science Museum that the passes do cover well. Work out your must-see list first, check what’s excluded, then decide whether the remaining attractions justify a pass at all.

For solo travellers vs groups

Both passes are priced per person with no group discount structure, so the maths does not change meaningfully between solo travellers and groups — each person needs their own card or attraction credits. What does change is the calculation’s sensitivity to a missed attraction: a solo traveller who skips a planned museum because of fatigue or bad weather loses the full value of that slot, while a family or group can sometimes share logistics (one person checks opening times, another books time slots) to make sure every included attraction actually gets used. Solo travellers on a tight schedule often do better with Go City’s flexible attraction-count model, since there’s no unused transport allowance or half-day going to waste if plans change.

What happens if you don’t use the full pass

Both products are largely non-refundable once activated, and neither offers a partial refund for unused attractions or days. The I amsterdam Card’s clock starts at first use and runs continuously regardless of how many attractions you actually visit in that window — a 72-hour card used for only two museums and one tram ride represents poor value, so plan a realistic itinerary before activating rather than after. Go City’s attraction-credit model is more forgiving in this respect: unused credits on some plans remain valid for longer redemption windows, though this varies by the specific pass purchased, so check the terms at the point of booking rather than assuming flexibility.

Frequently asked questions comparing Amsterdam passes

Does the I amsterdam Card include the Van Gogh Museum?

No. The Van Gogh Museum has not been part of the I amsterdam Card scheme since 2022. You must book and pay separately (€22 online). The same is true for the Anne Frank House. Always verify current inclusions at iamsterdam.com before purchasing.

Is Go City the same as the I amsterdam City Card?

No. They are different products from different companies with different pricing models. The I amsterdam Card is operated by the Amsterdam tourism board; Go City is an international tourism company operating in many cities. They have different attraction lists and pricing structures.

Which pass is best for a family with children?

If visiting ARTIS Royal Zoo and NEMO, Go City may be better value if those are on the current partner list. The I amsterdam Card includes NEMO but not ARTIS. For families doing 3–4 family-friendly attractions, calculate both and compare with individual ticket prices.

Can I use these cards on Amsterdam trams?

The I amsterdam City Card includes unlimited GVB trams, buses and metro. The Go City pass does not include transit — you pay separately (€3.40 per journey contactless, or a GVB day pass).

Is there a children’s version of these passes?

Yes, both the I amsterdam Card and Go City offer children’s prices for ages typically 4–11. Children under 3–4 usually enter attractions free regardless. Check current pricing at point of purchase for exact age categories.

Should I buy a pass at all, or just pay individual attraction prices?

If your itinerary is Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House and one or two other stops, individual tickets are usually simpler and no more expensive, since neither pass covers your two priorities anyway. Passes earn their value specifically when you’re visiting four or more covered attractions in a short window plus using public transport heavily — run the numbers for your actual list, as in the scenarios above, rather than assuming a pass automatically saves money. Our Amsterdam travel budget guide has a broader breakdown of typical trip costs to compare against.

Does either pass cover ARTIS Royal Zoo or the Heineken Experience reliably?

Not reliably for either. Artis appears on Go City’s list at times but not consistently, and it is not included in the I amsterdam Card at all; the same applies to the Heineken Experience. If either is a firm priority, check the current partner page immediately before booking, or budget for it as a separate ticket — see the Artis Royal Zoo guide for standalone pricing.